Capsule filling device



June 1, 1954 M. KASTRIN l-:T AL

CAPSULE FILLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 2, 1951 LGI -ZZ jJune 1, 1954 M. KASTRIN ET AL `2,679,5)165 CAPSULE FILLING DEVICE FiledMarch 2; 1951l "z-'snetsg-sheerz sa v/o .94

Afro/PWA@ Patented June l, 1954 CAPSULE FILLING DEVICE Mathew Kastrinand George Makres, Detroit,

Mich., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to saidKastrin and onehalf to Sam Karos, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 2, 1951, Serial No. 213,518

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a capsule filling device and more particularlyto an improved device for iilling o1- loading capsules of the split,hard shelled type.

An important object of this invention is to provide a capsule fillingdevice particularly adapted for use by druggists and pharmacists forfilling or loading capsules of the split, hard shelled type and which isconstructed in an improved manner for simultaneously iilling a pluralityof capsules, for applying the cap portions thereto, and for ejecting thelled, closed capsules from the device. Another important object of theinvention is to provide an improved device of this character including amovable member or plate yieldingly urged in one direction and novelconveniently operable means for releasably locking or holdingr the platein different p-ositions for filling and capping the capsules. A furtherimportant object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is designed for economical manufacture and for eiiicientand accurate use and which is substantially wholly composed of rigidplastic material.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, the device preferablycomprises three plate members, two of which are stationary and supportedin Vertical spaced apart relationship to one another and the remainingone of which is guided for up and down movement relative to the twostationary members. Preferably the top member is a perforated stationaryplate and the movable member an imperforate plate guided for up and down'travel between the top and bottom plates. The movable plate isyieldingly forced upwardly toward the top plate and at intermediatepositions it serves as a rest for the bottoms of the capsules while theyare filled and capped and in its final upward movement it lifts thecapsules through the perforated top plate for removal from the device.Incorporated in the device and preferably associated with handles on themovable middle plate is a releasable catch or locking mechanism forreleasably holding the middle plate at one position for filling the mainbody portions of the capsule and at another position for applying thecaps to the main body portions of the capsules. The final upwardmovement from the second position is utilized to eject the lled andclosed capsules from the apertures in the top plate.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features of theinvention Will become more fully apparent from the followingspecification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein: v

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention showing thetop plate thereof being provided with a plurality of apertures ofdifferent sizes in which the capsules are received,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the centerline of the deviceof Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device taken along line3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary sectional view taken alongline liof Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 2 buton a smaller scale and illustrating a modified form of the invention inthe capsule filling position,

Fig. 6 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 5 but showing the device incapsule capping position,

Fig. '7 is a sectional view similar to Figs. 5 and 6 but showing thedevice in capsule ejecting posinon,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 8 8 ofFig. '7,

Fig` 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongline of Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the control member andassociated parts of the modiiication, and

Fig. 1l is a vertical sectional View of the top portion of a furthermodified form of the invention.

In the various embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings,the capsule filling, capping and ejecting device comprises three membersor plates, two of which are held stationary with respect to one anotherand are vertically spaced apart from one another. Movable with respectto these two plates and preferably positioned therebetween is a thirdmember or plate which serves as a rest for the bottoms of the main bodyportions of the capsules. The third plate is yieldingly urged upwardlytoward the top plate. In one position of the middle plate, itpredisposes the main body portion of the capsule for filling the same.In another position at a higher level than the ilrst position, themiddle plate supports the main body portion of the capsules inprojecting relation to the top plate for receiving the cap portions.Releasable catch means is provided, and preferably carried by the middleplate, for holding the middle plate at either of the two positions andagainst the force of the yielding means urging the middle plate upward.Preferably, the locking means is associated with handles for depressingthe middle plate in order that the operator may conveniently control themovement of the middle plate.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to4, the bottom or base plate is indicated at iii. The top plate isindicated at i2, and as shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a plurality ofapertures therethrough in which capsules are positioned during thefilling and capping operations. Preferably the top plate is providedwith one or more different sizes of apertures for capsules of varioussizes, one such size of aperture being indicated at i4 and another sizeof aperture at i3. The plates ii) and I2 are disposed in vertical spacedspaced apart relationship and are combined into a unitary assembly bymeans of corner posts indicated at E8. In the embodiment illustrated inFigs. l to 4, the corner posts are channel shaped in formation and openinwardly of the device. Each channel shaped post comprises a member 2Sforming the base of the channel and extending iiush with one side of thedevice and two spaced apart side wall members 22-22 cooperating with thebase to fforin the channel. Preferably the bottom plate lil, top platei2 and the corner posts i3 are formed of plastic material.

Positioned 'between the bottom and top plates lll and i2 is a thirdmember or plate 2li, prefer- 'ably also composed of `plastic material.This third plate is movable with respect to the station'ary .plates illand l2 and is yieldingly constrained in an upward direction toward thetop plate l2. For this purpose, there is provided in each channel shapedcorner post i8 a shaft or rod 25 which is -encircled by a coiled spring23. The middle plate is provided with laterally extending tongues orears at each corner, such as indicated at 3o, which enter the channelshaped 4posts i8. Each ear is provided with an aperture 32 aligningIwith 'the rod 2E in the corner post into which it extends. By virtue ofthis constru tion,it is evident that the middle plate 2li may beslidingly depressed down the rods 26 while the ears 30 thereof areguided in the channel shaped posts. Such downward movement is resistedby the coiled springs '28, the upper ends of which are seated againstthe ears 3d. The coiled springs are of such a strength that when anydownward pressure on the plate 25, is relieved, they will raise themiddle plate 2d to its highest level, such as that shown in Fig. 3. Oneor more spacers indicated at '34 may be provided for limiting the upwardmovement of the middle plate 2d. These Spacers or stops may be securedto the corners of the top plate i2 as shown in Fig. 3 and dependdownwardly therefrom into the channel shaped corner posts I8.

Carried by the middle plate and projecting up- Wardly therefrom are aplurality of pins 35, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 3. Thebottom ends of the pins are secured to the middle plate for jointmovement therewith. The upper ends of the pins, as shown in Fig. 3, maybe concavely indented as indicated at 38 to form a radius of rcurvaturecorresponding to the bottoms of the main body portions of the capsules.The pins 35 are mounted on the ymiddle plate 2li in axial alignment withthe apertures lll and l@ -of the top plate and are of such a length thatwhen the middle plate is raised they enter the apertures and at themaximum level height of the middle lplate extend flush with the uppersurface of the top plate, as indicated in Fig.

As heretofore mentioned, control means is provided for releasablyholding the middle plate 24 at two different levels in its vertical pathof travel. For this purpose the middle plate 24 is provided with twolaterally extending handle portions ilil-flil projecting from oppositesides thereof as is evident in Figs. l and 2. These handle portions maybe engaged by the hands of the operator and employed to depress theplate 2e against the resistance of the springs Z8. Preferably carried byat least one of the handles di! is an actuating member or lever forreleasably locking the plate. In the two positions previously mentionedit is preferred to mount the actuating mechanism on one of the handlesd@ in order that the operator may control the movement of the middleplate while vhis hands are engaging the handles.

The releasable holding means for the middle plate 24 comprises twovertical extending rods or posts f2--2 of similar construction to oneanother. Each post is provided with two sections of reduced thicknessesto form shoulders with which the movable part of the holding mechanismis engageable. As shown in Fig. 2, each rod or post 42 is cylindrical information and is provided intermediate its ends with one reduced sectionindicated at d4 and another reduced section indicated at dit, These tworeduced sections of each post 42 may be cylindrical in formation asshown and of progressively less diameter as the bottom of the device isapproached. The reduced section lil of each post d2 forms with thenormal diameter thereof a shoulder d8. Similarly, the smallest reducedsection 65 of each post forms with the section 44 a shoulder ii.Releasable catch or latching means hereinafter described is providedwith middle plate 2li for engaging the shoulders i8 and 55 of the postse2-2.

Although each handle d may be provided with releasable latching meansfor engaging the shoulders `of the adjacent post 42, the embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in Figs. l to 4 uses only one latchingmechanism and employs remote control means for engaging the shoulders ofthe post E2 on the opposite side of the device.

eferring to Figs. l and 2, an elongated control member, preferably ofplastic material, is indicated at 52 and extends from one post 42 to theother post 42. The member `E52 is provided with an extension 54 whichoverlies one of the handles 4B of the middle plate, such as the handleshown at the right or" Figs. 1 and 2. The control member 52 is widenedimmediately adjacent to the posts *l2-42 in the manner best indicated at56 in Fig. '4. Positioned in each widened portion 56 of the controlmember 52 is a slot of the character indicated at 58. Each slot 58 iselongated in the longitudinal dimension of the control member 52 and itswidth is progressively decreased from one end to the other end thereof.As best shown in Fig. 4, the slot 58 is provided with circular sectionsprogressively decreasing in diameter from one end to the other endthereof. The largest diameter circular portion of the slot is indicatedat 69 and is of a size to permit the widest part of the post 42associated therewith to project therethrough. The next widest portion ofthe slot is indicated at Ell and its diameter is such that it will rideover the reduced section 44 of the post and abut the shoulder t3thereof. The smallest diameter of the section of the slot is indicatedat 66 and is of such a size to slide up and down the narrowest reducedsection 46 of the post and abut the shoulder 50 thereof.

.It is evident from rthe Adescription thus far made that when thecontrol member 52 .is moved longitudinally toward the left in Fig. 2 itwill progressively bring larger diameter sections of the slots 58-58into encircling relationship to the axes of the posts 42-42. When themiddle plate 24 is fully depressed the narrowest section 66 of each slot58 is capable of being brought in under the shoulders 50 of the posts42-42 and the resulting abutting engagement therewith will releasablyhold the plate in its fully depressed position. However, if the controlmember is moved toward the left in Fig. 2 it will bring the intermediatesections 64 thereof into alignment with the axes of the posts 42-42permitting the springs 28 to lift the plate until the portions of thecontrol member forming the intermediate sections 64 of the slot abut theshoulders 48 of the posts 42-42. In this position, the control memberwill releasably hold the plate 24 at an intermediate level above thefull line position shown in Fig. 2. When the control member is shiftedfurther to the left in Fig. 2, it will bring the largest sections 60 ofslots 58-58 into axial alignment with the posts 42-42 permitting thesprings 23 to lift the middle plate until they abut the stopping members34. The highest level position of the plate 24 is indicated in dottedoutline in Fig. 2 and in fully outlined position in Fig. 3.

Hand operated means is provided for reciprocating the control member 52and preferably such means is mounted on and associated with one of theprojecting handles 40 of the middle plate 24. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2,the right hand handle 40 is provided with two upstanding spaced apartbracket members 68-68 which are spaced apart from one another and areconnected together by means of a cross pin l0. Pivotally connected tothe cross pin is a lever 'I2 which is adapted to be engaged by the handof the operator. Extending downwardly from the pivotally connected endof the lever I2 and at substantially right angles thereto is an arm I4which is operatively connected to the extension 54 of the control member52. For this purpose, the extension 54 is provided with two upstandinglongitudinally spaced apart elements 'I6- 16 which together form a notchfor receiving the arm 14, as is clearly evident in Fig. 2. Therelationship of the handle l2 to the extension 54 is such that when thehandle 'I2 is swung downwardly about its pivotal axis the arm 74 willadvance the control member 52 toward the left bringing successivelylarger sections of the slots 53 into axial alignment with the posts42-42. The depressible movement of the lever 'i2 is yieldingly opposedby means of a spring which may be in the form of a iiexible metallicmember 18 secured at its opposite ends to the lever and to the handle 40and looped one or more times between its ends, as shown in Fig. 2. Thespring IB functions to yieldingly retract the control member 52 to theright whenever pressure on the lever is relieved.

In the lowermost position of the movable plate 24, which is shown infull line in Fig. 2, the upper ends of the pins 36 carried thereby aredisposed below the plate I2 and at such a level that the main bodyportions of the capsules may be fully received in the apertures I4 andI6. As shown in Fig. 2, the body portion of a larger type of capsule isindicated at 80. The body portion of a smaller type of capsule isindicated at 82. The body portions 80 and 82 of the capsules areinserted into the apertures of the top plate I2 when the middle plate 24is in its fully depressed position and the base ends of the capsule bodyportions are seated on the indentations 38 of the pins and supportedthereby. So supported, the upper ends of the body portions 80 and 82 ofthe capsules extend substantially iiush with or slightly below the uppersurface of the top plate I2 and are in a position to receive contentmaterial either in dry or liquid form.

After the body portions 85 and 82 of the capsules are lled with contentmaterial to the desired amount, the operator depresses the lever i2suiiciently to bring the intermediate sections 52 of the slots 58 intoaxial alignment with the posts 42-42. This will clear the control memberfrom the lower shoulders 5U- of the posts and permit the spring to raisethe plate 24 until the shoulders 48 of the posts are engaged by thecontrol member. During the rising of the plate 24 to the second highlevel position, the pins 3S project the upper ends of the main bodyportions of the capsules above the upper surface of the plate I2, theextent of this projection being such that the cap portions of thecapsules may be fitted over the body portions. The resulting position ofthe capsules is shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2. In this projectedcondition, a cap portion 86 is telescopingly receivable over the largercapsule body portion 80, and the smaller cap portion 88 is slidinglytted over the smaller capsule body portion 82.

To eject the capsules from the device, the operator further depressesthe lever l2 bringing the largest diameter sections 60 of the slots 58into axial alignment with the posts 42-42. This will release the plate24 for pivotal upward movement by the spring 28 and cause the upper endsof the pins 36 to reach a level approximating that of the upper surfaceof the top plate I2. The result is that the lled and sealed capsules areejected from the apertures and fall over on their sides on the uppersurface of the top plate in the manner shown in Fig. 3. These ejectedcapsules may be easily picked from or swept off of the upper surface ofthe top plate I2.

It is noted that the pins 36 project varying distances above the middleplate 24 depending upon the size of the capsule engaging plate. Forexample, the pins at the right of Fig. 2 project to a higher level thanthe pins at the left in order to fully eject the smaller type ofcapsules from the apertures of the top plate I2.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 10inclusive, the middle plate is capable of ejecting the capsules withoutthe need of projecting pins of the character shown at ,35 in the earlierdescribed embodiment of the invention. In general, the modificationfollows the previously described embodiment and includes a base orbottom member 90, a spaced top member 92, and a movable middle plate 94.The middle plate is provided with laterally extending handle portions,on-e of which is indicated at 96 at the left of Figs. 5 to 7 and theother of which is indicated at 98 at the right thereof. The top andbottom plates and S2 are spaced apart in the same manner as previouslydescribed by corner posts indicated at |55. The middle plate is guidedfor up and down movement by these corner posts and it is releasably heldat filling and capping positions in the manner generally like thatpsreviously described. As shown in Figs. 5 to 8, two opposite sides ofthe device are provided with posts I02--I02 corresponding with posts42-42 previously described. Each post |02 is shaped to provide shouldersaround its length for engagement by releasable catch means carried bythe middle plate. Each post [02 may, for example, be reduced crosssectionally `intermediate its ends to .form a shoulder VH3Acorresponding in function to shoulder 48 ,anda secondshoulder itscorresponding in function to shoulder 5t.

The middle plate S4 is preferably jogged transversely across the midsection thereof to dispose one half section thereof at a higher levelthan the other half section. The jog between the two half sections is.indicated at 1,08 and by such a provision the device is capable ofreceiving and `iilling capsules of two different sizes. The body portionof a :smaller type of capsule is indicated at l I, andthe Vbody portionof a larger type of capsule is indicated at H2.

Extending longitudinally across the middle plate 94 and operativelyengageable with the shoulders ltd and m6 is a control member H55 similarin construction and function to the control member 52 previouslydescribed. One end of the control member `l |41 overlies a handle SS,such as the handle at the right of Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Supported upon thehandle over which the control member H4 lies isa manually operable armor lever H6 constructed similarly to the lever 'l2 and including adepending detent or dog H8 which is engageable in a recess formed in theextremity of thecontrol member H4. The lever l i6 is pivoted at `26 andis yieldingly urged in an upward direction by means of a spring member122 similar to the spring 78 previously described. For that portion ofVthe length of the control member `l i4 which overlies the lower halfsection oi the middle plate Sli, there is preferably provided asupporting ridge 124 which4 Vunderlies the control member and supportsit in an elevated position upon the depressed section of the middleplate. For the remaining half section of the middle plate, the controlmember lid may be positioned in a recess so that its upper face extendsflush with the upper face of Athe plate as indicated in dotted outlinein Figs. 5, 6 and 7. To guide the longitudinal slidable movement of thecontrol member H4 and to limit its movement, the control member may beprovided with one or more longitudinal slots |26 through which a screw|23 extends, as shown in Figs. 9 and l0.

What we claim is:

1. In a capsule filling machine, a bottom plate, a top plate, cornerposts supporting the top plate in spaced parallel relationship to thebottom plate, said top plate provided with apertures for receiving thecup members of split type capsules, a middle plate disposed between thetop and bottom plates, means guiding said middle plate for up and downmovement relative to the top and bottom plates, means yieldingly urgingthe middle plate upwardly toward the top plate, a handle projectinglaterally from one side of the middle plate, and releasable catch meansfor releasably locking the middle plate in spaced relationship below thetop plate counter the means yieldingly urging the same toward the topplate, said catch means including a part carried by the handle.

2. A capsule lling machine comprising, in combination, three parallelplates vertically disposed with respect-to one another, corner postsconnecting the top and bottom plates together into a unitary structure,said top plate being provided with a plurality of apertures of a size toadmit the cup members of Asplit type capsules, said middle plateconstituting 4a rest for the bottom of the cup members received intheapertures of the top plate, spring means encircling the cori8 nerposts and yieldingly urging the middle plate toward the top plate, ahandle projecting from one side of said middle plate, means forreleasably locking the middle plate in spaced relationship below the topplate including a manually operable lever carried by said handle.

3. In a capsule filling apparatus, the combination of a perforated platehaving apertures adapted to receive the capsule members, an imperforateplate capable of being moved in perpendicular relationship to the planeof the iirst mentioned plate and theretoward to force the capsulemembers out of the apertures of the vperforated. plate, spring meansyieldingly urging the imperiorate plate toward the perforate plate, astationary post extending through the imperiorate plate, said posthaving shoulders spaced longitudinally therealong, and releasable catchmeans carried by the imperforate plate adapted to engage the shouldersof the post to releasably hold the imperforate plate from movementtoward the periorate palte.

4. AIn a capsule filling machine, the combination of means for handlingthe cup members of split type capsules comprising two plates, one ofwhich is perforated and the other 01 which is imperiorate, said platesbeing disposed in parallel relation to one another so as to form asupporting seat for the cup members inserted through the perorations ofthe perforated plate, means yieldingly urging the imperforate platetoward the perforated plate, a stationary post extending through theimperforate plate and provided with shoulders therealong, and releasablecatch means carried by the imperforate plate and operable to engage theshoulders of the post to releasably hold the imperforate plate againstmovement.

5. In a capsule fillingdevice, the combination of a base plate, acapsule holding plate mounted in spaced relation from the base plate andprovided with a plurality of apertures for receiving the cup members ofsplit type capsules, corner posts extending between said base plate andsaid apertured plate connecting the same into a unitary assembly, amiddle plate positioned between the base and the top plates and guidedfor movement on said posts, coil springs encircling said posts andurging the middle plate upwardly toward the top plate, a plurality ofupright pins carried by the middle plate and axially aligning with theapertures in the top plate and adapted upon .upward movement of themiddle plate to eject capsules received in the apertures of the ,topplate, a pair of handles projecting laterally from the opposite sides ofthe middle plate, and means for releasably holding lthe middle plate inspaced relationship to the top plate including a hand actuatable leverVcarried by one of said handles.

6. In a capsule filling apparatus, a base plate, a perforated capsulefilling plate disposed over said base plate, corner posts connecting thetwo plates together into a unitary assembly and such that the perforatedplate is disposed in spaced relationship to the base plate, a memberdisposed between said two plates and guided for up and down movementrelative thereto, said member adapted to form a rest for the bottom endsor capsules inserted through the perforations of said perforated plate,coil springs encircling said corner posts and yieldingly urging themember upwardly toward the `perforated plate, a pair of handles carriedby the member and projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof fordepressing said member against the tension of said springs, and meansfor releasably holding the middle plate in depressed relationship to theperforated plate including a lever carried by one of said handles.

7. In a capsule filling apparatus of the character described, a baseplate, a perforated capsule positioning plate disposed over said baseplate, a plurality of posts extending lbetween the base plate and theperforated plate and connecting the same together into a unitaryassembly and such that the perforated plate is disposed in spacedparallel relationship to the base plate, a middle plate disposed betweensaid base and perforated plates and guided for up and down movementrelative thereto, spring means yieldingly urging the middle plateupwardly and into subl0 stantial abutment with the perforated plate, atleast one of said posts being provided with areas of reduced crosssection forming one or more shoulders between the base and perforatedplates, means carried by the middle plate and engageable with thereduced portions of said post to releasably hold the middle plate inspaced relationship to the top plate, and a lever carried by the middleplate for actuating said releasable 10 holding means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 15Number Name Date 1,667,066 Brown Apr. 24, 1928 2,200,244 OHara et al May14, 1940

